Parlando: The COC Blog

6/4/2012

2012/2013 Artist Basics: Ramón Vargas

What he'll be singing with us: He'll be singing one of Verdi's most demanding tenor roles: the troubadour, warrior and romantic lead Manrico in Il Trovatore. The COC audience will be the very first to hear his complete Manrico – it's a role debut.

Where you might have seen him: If you attend the Met's Live in HD cinecasts, you might remember him as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni last year. His 2011/2012 season included leading roles at the Weiner Staatsoper (as Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore), Rodolfo in La bohème at both The Metropolitan Opera and Teatro Liceu in Barcelona, and the title role in The Tales of Hoffmann at La Scala in Milan. This will be his first time singing in a mainstage production at the COC.

I googled Ramon Vargas and found that he had died in May. If this is correct should you not alter the web site notices?

Cecily (6/24/2012 2:50:00 PM)

Hi Maureen, Ramon Vargas is alive and performing (to the best of our knowledge as of Sunday - he certainly did not die in May). After googling myself I cannot find any reports that he has died. His official website lists many upcoming appearances, including a Don Carlos in Vienna on Tuesday: http://www.ramonvargas.com/e/schedule.html

Rodney Williamson (10/1/2012 12:00:00 AM)

Yes, Ramón Vargas is very much alive! I have seen him several times, recently in Mexico and at the Met. His performance of Don Ottavio at the Met last season broufght tears to my eyes... musically it was just about perfect! He is Mexico's greatest tenor, apart of course from Rolando Villazón, who lives in Europe. COC, please keep inviting him! While his performance on Saturday as Manrico was not the best I have heard from him, it still had moments of excellence and the practised polish and professionalism that we have come to expect from him. The other singers in Il trovatore were very good as well, particularly the women.